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It's customary for a sitting President to publicly endorse whoever wins the primary process of the party to succeed him. The purpose of this is forging party unity so the fight can be focused on the nominee of the opposing party.

Money has to be raised from wealthy donors, corporations and ordinary Americans to pay for radio, newspaper, Internet and television advertising. Traveling around the country promoting the candidate's message is of vital importance as well.

I believe that Bush favored Romney but ranks have to be closed because the Republican Party caucus and primary voters selected McCain. All the animosity between Bush and McCain during their 2000 presidential battle must be put off to the side. I'm certain that it will never be forgotten by both men but bygones are bygones.

McCain will have President Bush campaign with him in selected areas. Congressional districts and towns where there is a large influx of military installations and active-duty troops will be beneficial to McCain. People in these areas like Bush and support the war on terror and how McCain supports the President in these endeavors.

The Bible Belt or the Deep South as well as the country's midsection is where Bush remains popular. It would be advantageous for McCain to have Bush by his side campaigning in these locations.

It wouldn't be politically smart for McCain to campaign with Bush concerning the national economy unless things dramatically improve for the better.

Other than speaking with the troops in military towns, I don't see much of an advantage for McCain to campaign with Bush. If the economy wasn't in a recession and Bush was personally popular with the American public, he could campaign more with him.

However, in a general election cycle, McCain will be speaking to independents and Democrats who don't like Bush and his policies. McCain has attempted to convey an image of independence. I'm sure that he has ideas of his own that run contrary to Bush. Regarding the federal budget deficit and ways to stimulate the economy, McCain favors cutting government spending first before tax cuts are implemented. He isn't against tax cuts but understands the fact that tax cuts must coincide with an equal amount of spending reductions in order to balance the budget. Bush and the hard-core economic conservatives like the lobbying group Club for Growth favor tax cuts. This is an important difference between McCain and the conservative base of the Republican Party.

In conclusion, McCain will campaign with Bush if he helps him in certain areas and avoid him in locations where Bush isn't popular with the voters. As indicated from their meeting at the White House on Wednesday, March 05, 2008, the President understands this strategy as well.

Learn more about this author, David Giza.
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